Seismic & Earthquake Retrofitting

We are Seismic and Earthquake Retrofitting Contractors in Portland, Oregon. Contact us for a free estimate or if you have questions.

“Your Safety is our Top Priority”

Seismic Evaluations

House To Foundation Anchoring

Foundation Cripple Wall Upgrading

Professionally Engineered Systems

Sloped Site Footing Alterations

Chimney Strengthening

Whole House Retrofitting

No matter where you live, there’s the chance that your life, your family and your community will be affected by some kind of natural event. When these events occur, they often create emergency situations that can last from days to several weeks. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, many survivors were displaced from their homes for over two years. When natural disasters occur, how many people find themselves prepared? Often we tend to think that because we live in a major city or the suburbs of a larger city, we won’t have to worry about a disaster affecting us and our families. The truth of the matter is that most people who find themselves dealing with a disaster could have been better prepared.

Some natural disasters such as hurricanes and severe ice storms can be predicted, while others like earthquakes or wildfires cannot. While most people would probably prefer not to think too much about the “what-if’s” of life, there are definite benefits to understanding what risks we face every day and being ready for them. Preparing for a natural disaster means understanding the inherent dangers of each, and what you and your family will need to survive throughout the duration of the emergency.

The first thing to do when it comes to being prepared for the possibility of a natural disaster is to evaluate the kinds of events that are likely to happen in your local area. Based on current seismic predictions, the Northwest is one of the highest rated sections of the world for seismic activity. Dr. Kit Miyamoto, a prominent Japanese structural engineer speaking at the “Preparing for Seismic Certainty” conference held at Portland State University this past June, 2011, was asked what area he sees as the most dangerous earthquake area in the world. Dr. Miyamoto placed the Northwest among the worst, if not the worst.

Scientists are now in wide agreement that a powerful earthquake and tsunami will strike the Oregon coast within the next 50 years. Why do they think that? The latest findings come from Chris Goldfinger, Director of the Active Tectonics and Seafloor Mapping Lab at Oregon State University. Instead of thinking giant quakes occur every 500 years, Goldfinger’s work puts the cycle at 300 to 350 years. The last megathrust quake (8.7 to 9.2 and above) to hit Oregon occurred in the Cascadia subduction zone off the Oregon Coast on January 26, 1700. “We’ve almost doubled the probability of these events happening,” states James Roddey, Earth Sciences Information Officer for the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. “It just gives a whole lot more urgency to educate the folks at the coast that, ‘Hey, you got to get ready.” View a video of a KGW Television interview with James Roddey below.

This doesn’t mean we need to live in fear, though. Home owners often focus on what they consider to be high up-front costs associated with seismic preparation and figure they’ll just take their chances. Fault Line Constructors can help you prepare your home at far less cost to you than you might be believing. Contact us today, and let us show you that your safety is our top priority.